Comments on: Labor drops support for compulsory student associations!

By: Daniel

Daniel — Thu, 25 Aug 2005 12:04:20 +0000

Haha, this came up at the latest local MP debate we had at Waikato Uni. The WSU (Waikato Students Union) president asked if any of the parties were going to remove compulsory membership. One lady in the crowd was screaming out “They never do anything for us.”

It was nice when she was shot down as someone else took the microphone and told them that it was the WSU that allowed us to have the opportunity to question local MPs and party leaders.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Thu, 25 Aug 2005 12:02:49 +0000

It was nice when she was shot down as someone else took the microphone and told them that it was the WSU that allowed us to have the opportunity to question local MPs and party leaders.

By: Le Clerc

Le Clerc — Thu, 25 Aug 2005 10:56:13 +0000

Beatties problems have more to do with the patient deaths at Bundaberg hospital and the systemic problems in Queenslands health system.

By: Clint

Clint — Thu, 25 Aug 2005 10:02:02 +0000

I have heard from the United party the other day that they also support VSM. While ACT MPs have supported this since day one, I can’t say the same for National. I don’t see this changing if they need to go into coalition with Winston again.

By: B.J. Melville

B.J. Melville — Thu, 25 Aug 2005 09:26:41 +0000

Yeah, true conor, but check the margins on a lot of those seats and compare to them to the swings the Liberals acheived in the bye-elections. Beattie’s time is up. His ‘do nothing’ strategy has worked for a few years but since they started introducing gay-friendly policies support has plummeted. It is Queensland after all.

By: Conor

Conor — Thu, 25 Aug 2005 02:20:48 +0000

Thanks Whaleoil – Queensland Labor has 61 out of 89 seats in Queensland. Sounds like a revolution.

The next election is in 18 months time. I am sure they will win.

By: stanley climbfall

stanley climbfall — Thu, 25 Aug 2005 00:45:58 +0000

ACT are the only party in NZ that advocates this

By: wildebeest

wildebeest — Thu, 25 Aug 2005 00:23:24 +0000

There are two critical points: if Labor’s compromise allows for the funding of ’student representation’ there will still be a backdoor financial lifeline for student associations.

And who will control the amenities fee and the delivery of non-academic services? If all or some of the amenities fees is passed to student associations they will find ways to divert some of it to fund their political activities.

If Labor’s compromise is to work the amenities fee and the provision of non-academic services have to be controlled by the institutions. And the funding of any form of student representation must be based entirely on voluntary contributions.

For the anti VSU mob is Australia this is all about protecting their unearned income. They know that if they have to sell membership to students they will not survive in their current form.

By: MP

MP — Thu, 25 Aug 2005 00:13:52 +0000

About time. Don’t imagine NZ Labour will change their minds anytime soon though. University associations provide Young Labour members with far too many jobs for that.

By: Whaleoil

Whaleoil — Thu, 25 Aug 2005 00:09:38 +0000

Jsut got back from Queensland, Labor just lost, by huge margins, two byelections. The Beattie government is in big trouble. Queenslanders are sick and tired of nanny state policies and the arrogance of the Labor government.

By: Madeleine

Madeleine — Wed, 24 Aug 2005 23:56:06 +0000

I got very excited for a moment. Another reason to abandon NZ for Aus.

By: MikeE

MikeE — Wed, 24 Aug 2005 23:53:52 +0000

Aucklands had voluntary for a while now.. pity the rest don’t follow suit.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 24 Aug 2005 23:22:18 +0000

Tensious!

Old Jordan Williams’s is getting excited… he should go serve some portions.

By: Jordan W

Jordan W — Wed, 24 Aug 2005 22:58:15 +0000

DPF! I wish you wouldn’t get me excited with headlines such as this!